Window regulator



July 2, 1929. MYERS 1.719.379

WINDOW REGULATOR Filed Dec. 13, 1926 .'NVENTOR.

Patented July 2, 1929.

UNITED STATES HUBERT A. MYERS, OF TOLEDO, OHIO.

WINDOW REGULATOR.

Application filed December 13, 1926. Serial No. 154,326.

This invention relates to window regulators for controlling the position of windows in vehicles such as automobiles, motor boats and the like, and more particularly to the conf nector arranged between the window and the regulating mechanism proper.'

It has long been a desideratum among automobile maunfacturers and engineers to provide means forefiiciently raising and lowering the Windows of Vehicles and at the same time overcome the objectionable noise heretofore attendant upon use of such mechanisms.

A large part of the noise thus engendered is due to rattle between the window and adjacent parts of the vehicle including the regulator mechanism. Such rattle is caused either by vertical movements of the window as the car body bounces during travel or by lateral vibratory movements of the Window resulting in a series of-spaced contacts of the window with the adjacent frame or portions of the regulator mechanism. Spring clamps or bumpers tending to press the window against the frame to prevent chatter cannot be employed without so increasing the friction during the raising and lowering movements as to render the workin of the regulator mechanism too difficult or ladies and children, and when the window is left free to easily slide under the impulses given by the regulator mechanism'it is also free to vibrate with the car body. The principal object of the present invention is the arrangement of a resilient connector between the window and its regulator mechanism that will prevent this objectionable rattle of the window against its side framesas well as against the adjacent portions of the regulator mechanism, and which will transmit the required impulses from the regulator mechanism to thejwindow.

A further object of my invention'is the arrangement of a resilient connector upon the operating arm of the regulator mechanism and engaging the window whereby the window will be held. against undue vibratory movements and which will aid in preventing the transmission of shocks from the regulator mechanism to the window.

Other objects .and advantages will be apparent from the following description, wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings illustrating preferred embodiments of my invention and wherein similar referonce numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings: f Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the operating lever arm of a window regulator and associated mechanism, parts being broken away. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig.3 is a detail vertical section taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view showing a slightly modified embodiment of my invention, and

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view showing another modification of my invention.

Referring now to the drawings, the numeral 5 designates a fulcrum plate or frame member adapted to be secured in the usual or any desired manner upon'the body of a vehicle adjacent a' window frame and arranged to support a shaft 6 adapted to be clutch-connected with an operating handle (not shown) and carrying a pinion 7- normally meshing with an arcuate rack 8 fixed upon the operating lever arni9. It is to be understood that the above described regulator mechanism is intended to be typical of regulator mechanism now used to a considerable extent upon automobiles, and that the claimed disclosure herein is adapted for use with any desired form of regulator mechanism. In the illustrated embodiment the operating lever arm 9 is a lever of the'third order, the weight being supported upon the free end of the lever, its fulcrum being at the opposite end of the lever upon the fulcrum pin 10 while the power is applied intermediate the ends of the lever through the rack 8. The

weight of the windowll and lever arm 9 is adapted to be counterbalanced wholly or in part by means of a counterbalancing spring 12 attached at one end of the fulcrum pin 10 and secured to a bracket 13 extending from and in addition aid in absorbing shocks that might be transmitted from the regulator mechanism to the window as well as tend to hold the window against vibrationin either vertical or' lateral directions. Toward thi's end I have illustrated in Figs. 1-3 a connector 15 formed as a resilient roller having a concave periphery of slightly lesser curvature than the curvature of the bight portion of the strip 14 carried by the lower edge of the window 11. As best illustrated in Fig; 2 the roller 15 is formed as a coiled wire spring with'its convolutions of'progressively varying diameters and "with its extremities l5 (noteFig. 3) closely encircling a journal bolt'16 so as'to eiiabl'ethe ready rotation of the connector'15'jupon the bolt 16/ The end convolution's ofltheconnector 15m initially spaced from each other bya distance slightly less than the distance shown in Fig. 2, whereby the end convolution's will be forced apart by the strip 14 ofthe window 11 when the connector is mounted upon the window. This arrangement causes a lateral distortion of the connector 15 to provide oppositely directed tensions tending to maintain the window centrally of the connector 15 and holding it against 'lateral'vibra'tion during the travel ofthe vehicle. The bolt 16 is preferably secured in the free extremity'of the lever arm 9, substantially as shown'in' 1. This pinching grip of the convolutions of the connector :15fai'ds in mai'nt'ainin lateral stability of the window 11, but f as" but little effect in oovntrolling vertical vibrations of the window, as during waiver of the fvehicle' over rough streets. To maintain vertical stability of the window 11 I preferably mount the anchor strip 17 so thatlits' lower flange 17 is spaced fromvthe lowermost portion of the strip 14 of the window'by a distance less than the diamtersof the end a coils of the connector 15. The vertical portion of the anchor {strip 1 7 may be spot, welded or otherwise 'sfuit'ably secured to the strip 14, enabling maintenance'of the. desired positioning of the strips 14 and 17 during the raising and lowe ring movements of thewindow. The sides .et'th'' stri may bei'lf p t6 enable the insertion "of the connector"v 15 into the space between the str ps 1'1 and 17 from either side of tli-e'Stripl 17." or the connector may be inserted from the front by tilting the connector11 5 sti ificiently to permit the insertion of the top portion of its outermost coilinto the space beyond the lowermost portion of the strip 14, whereupon the lever arm 9 and connector is swung to substantially the posidf the connector eing distorted during such swinging. inovement to permit the ingress atively to the lever arm 9. Vertical movement of the window in either direction will tend to compress the convolutions of the connector I5, and't'he connector will absorb the shocks tending to produce the vertical movements of the window.

When. it is desired to raise or lower the window 11 from its then position, it is only necessary to turn the pinion in the proper direction to swing the operating lever arm 9. The movement ofthe free extremity of the lever arm 9 will be transmitted to the window ll through my iin'proved connector 15, which may roll or slide along the strips 14 and 17to'permit the ready swinging mov'e ment of thelever arm 9. Sudden shocks that may be imparted to the lever arm through tions of progressively varyingdi'ameters and with the endmost 'convolution's initially spaoedsubstantial'ly as are those in the above described embodiment'of my-i'mproved' connector 15, but the ends 18 are bent into substantiaIIy parallel positionsextendin'g latera'l- 'ly beyond one oftheend convoluti'ons to enable their'being readily passedthroUgh spaced apertures in'the lever arm: 9. With this construction the ends 18? of the'connector 18 are thrust throughthe aperturesf l9 and then clinched, substantially as shown'in Fig. 4,

to enable theperm'anent mounting of the'connector upon the'lever arm. Withthis co'nstructionthe' connector 18 is not free to rotate,

but may slide upon-the bi'gh't portion o'f the strip 14: and flange 17: during the swinging In Fig. 5 I haveshown' afurther modification of my invention wherein'my'improved connector may be 'directly connected upon thelever armQi'n the same manner as in'the I embodiment shownin 4,jbut the contour of'th'e'sprinigconnector is shaped to cooperate with v a concave stri -142 upon the "bottom of the window; The peri hery of the coiled spring connector20is made-convex substantially as shown witlf the coils so spaced a's'to enable contact between the connector 7 and strip 1? at a plurality ofpoints. .The positioning of the c0i1s'foflargest' diameter with in the concai ity inthe stri'p 145 serves'to hold tion shown in Fi 2, thesever'al convolutions the strip and attached window against lateral vibration, while the resiliency of the spring connector serves tions of the window. 4

While it will be apparent that the illustra'ted embodiments of my invention herein disclosed are w'ell calculated to adequately absorb" vertical vibrafulfill the objects and advantages rimarily stated, it is to be understood that t e invention is susceptible to variation, modification and change within the spirit and scope of the subjoined claims.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. The combination with a window carrying a strip upon its lower extremity and a window regulator mechanism having an operating arm, of a resilient connector comprising a coiled wire spring mounted upon said arm and having its periphery shaped to substantially conform with the shape of the lower portion of said strip.

2. The combination with a window carrying a strip upon its lower extremity and a window regulator mechanism having an operating arm, of a resilient connector comprising a coiled wire spring having its end convolutions of greater diameter than its central convolutions and initially spaced from each other by a distance less than the thickness of the lower portion of said strip, the periphery of the connector being normally in contact with the lower portion of said strip.

3. The combination with a Window carrying a substantially U-shaped strip on its lower portion and an anchor strip having a flange in spaced alignment with the bight portion of the U-shaped strip, of a window regulator mechanism having an operating arm carrying a resilient connector comprising a coil spring having a concave periphery adapted to receive the bight portion of said U-shaped strip.

4. The combination with a window carrying a substantially U-shaped strip on its lower portion and an anchor strip having a flange in spaced alignment with the bight portion of the U-shaped strip, of a window regulator mechanism having an operating arm carrying a resilient connector comprising a coil spring having a concave periphery adapted to receive the bight portion of said U-shaped strip, the end convolutions of said connector being initially spaced from each other by a distance less than the thickness of the bight portion of said U-shaped strip.

5. The combination with a window carrying a substantially U-shaped strip on its lower portion and an anchor strip having a flange in spaced alignment with the bight portions of the U-shaped strip, of a window regulator mechanism having an operating arm carrying a resilient connector comprising a coil spring having a concave periphery adapted to receive the bight portion of said U-shaped strip, the convolutions of said connector being greater than the distance between the lowermost portion of the U-shaped strip and the upper surface of the flange of the anchor stri III: witness whereof I hereunto set my hand.

HU BERT A. MYERS. 

